Comparative studies on the haematological and serum biochemical changes in single and mixed Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma congolense infections in rabbits.

Abstract

The haematological and serum biochemical changes were studied in rabbits infected with Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma congolense and mixed infection. Twenty male chinchilla x New Zealand white cross bred rabbits were divided into 4 groups (A – D) of 5 rabbits each with group A infected with T brucei, group B; infected with T congolense, group C infected with mixed T brucei and T congolese and D served as the uninfected control. The infection was well established by day 4 post-infection (PI). The infections led to decrease in packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration and erythrocyte count and increased total leucocyte count. The T congolense infected group maintained higher PCV and Hb values than the T brucei only and mixed infected groups. The total leucocyte count increased significantly (p<0.05) following infection and on day 21 PI, the T brucei infected group was significantly (p<0.05) higher than other groups. However, the increase in leucocyte reversed from day 28 PI. There was decrease in mean creatinine levels with the T brucei infected group being significantly (p<0.05) lower than the control on days 14, 21 and 28 PI but did not differ significantly with mixed and T congolense only groups. The T brucei and T congolense infected groups had increased in mean urea values following infection and were significantly (p<0.05) higher than mixed and control groups on days 21 and 28 PI. The mean AST and ALT values increased in all infected groups following infection and on day 35 PI, the infected groups were significantly (p<0.05) higher than the control. The results showed variations in pathogenesis of trypanosome species in rabbits.

Key words: rabbit, trypanosomes, pathogenesis, haematology, serum biochemical,